The film focusses on a Malian family living in Bordeaux, France.
Hortense (Mata Gabin), a nurse of African origin in her forties, abandons her family to be with her lover, Jean-Paul – an oyster cultivator in the Arcachon Bay.
Her husband, Malik (Marius Yelolo) remains in denial about his wife's departure as he is left to look after their children – two boys aged 12 and 6.
While Malik dreams of returning home to Mali, the rest of his family (including his eldest son Dani (Diouc Koma), whose homosexual identity is suddenly revealed to Malik) embrace life in France.
The unexpected arrival of the beautiful and mysterious Amina (Aïssa Maïga) further complicates the family situation, alongside a close relationship that develops between Malik and his lonely neighbour Mme Myriam (Lorella Cravotta).